Charlie Murphy (actor) explained

Charlie Murphy
Birth Name:Charles Quinton Murphy
Birth Date:12 July 1959
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Death Place:New York City, U.S.[1]
Death Cause:Leukemia-->
Years Active:1980–2017
Children:3
Relatives:Eddie Murphy (brother)

Charles Quinton Murphy (July 12, 1959 – April 12, 2017) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He was best known as a writer and cast member of the Comedy Central sketch-comedy series Chappelle's Show as well as the co-star of the sitcom Black Jesus. He was the older brother of actor and comedian Eddie Murphy.

Early life

Murphy was born on July 12, 1959, in the New York City borough of Brooklyn.[2] His mother Lillian Murphy was a telephone operator and his father, Charles Edward Murphy, was a transit police officer, actor, and comedian.[3]

As an adolescent, Murphy spent ten months in jail.[4] In 1978 on the day of his release,[5] he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years as a boiler technician.[6]

Career

Murphy made his first film appearance in the 1970 comedy-drama film The Landlord. The movie was shot in a neighborhood where Murphy lived and he appears in a brief scene as a boy stealing hubcaps. Murphy had minor roles in several films in the late 1980s and early 1990s and worked behind the scenes with hip hop group K-9 Posse, a duo composed of his half-brother Vernon Lynch Jr. and Wardell Mahone. On their 1988 self-titled debut, Murphy was credited as the album's executive producer as well as songwriter on "Somebody's Brother" and "Say Who Say What."[7] He also made an appearance in the video for the duo's first single, "This Beat Is Military."[8] Murphy's first major role in a motion picture was in the 1993 film CB4, playing the antagonist Gusto.

Murphy gained national attention as a recurring performer on Chappelle's Show, particularly in the Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories sketches. In these, Murphy recounts his misadventures as part of his brother's entourage, including encounters with various celebrities such as Rick James and Prince.[9] [10] After Chappelle's Show host Dave Chappelle left the show, Murphy and Donnell Rawlings hosted the "lost episodes" compiled from sketches produced before his departure.

In 2005, he appeared in King's Ransom (alongside Anthony Anderson and Jay Mohr). In the film, Murphy portrayed Herb, a gay ex-con who is hired by King (Anderson) to fake his kidnapping.[11] Murphy also did voiceovers for Budweiser radio commercials, provided the voice for Iraq War veteran/criminal Ed Wuncler III on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim series The Boondocks, and the voice for a pimp named Jizzy-B in Rockstar Games' video game. Murphy provided the voice for Spock on the G4TV's Star Trek 2.0 shorts, and the dog in his younger brother Eddie's 2007 film, Norbit.[12]

On March 20, 2009, he began his own sketch comedy series Charlie Murphy's Crash Comedy on Crackle.[13] A stand-up special, Charlie Murphy: I Will Not Apologize premiered on Comedy Central in late February 2010.[14] Murphy also made special appearances in 1000 Ways to Die and the TBS sitcom Are We There Yet? as Frank Kingston. In 2014–15, Murphy played Vic on the Adult Swim live-action show Black Jesus.[15]

Personal life and death

Murphy was a resident of Tewksbury Township, New Jersey.[16] He was married to Tisha Taylor Murphy from 1997 until her death from cervical cancer in December 2009.[17] The couple had two children together, and Murphy had a child from a previous relationship.[17] He was a karate practitioner.[18] [19]

Murphy died from leukemia on April 12, 2017, at age 57 in New York City, New York.[20] [21]

The third-season premiere of Black Jesus and his brother's film, Dolemite Is My Name, were dedicated to Murphy. Murphy was the one who piqued his brother's interest in the biopic's subject, Rudy Ray Moore.[22]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1989Harlem NightsJimmy The Muffin Man[23]
1990Mo' Better BluesEggy
1991Jungle FeverLivin' Large
1993CB4Gusto[24]
1995Vampire in BrooklynWriter[25]
1996Saxophone Man
1998Brooklyn
1999Unconditional LoveDetective
2002Paper SoldiersJohnsonAlso writer
2003Death of a DynastyDick James/Dukey Man/Sock Head
2005LovesickDamian
2005King's RansomHerb Clarke
2005Roll BounceVictor
2006Night at the MuseumTaxi DriverCameo
2007Three Days to VegasAndre
2007Mattie Fresno and the Holoflux UniverseGriss[26]
2007NorbitLloyd the Dog[27] Voice cameo / also writer
Nominated — Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay
2007UnearthedHank
2007Twisted FortuneAngel Robbins
2007Universal RemoteVarious
2007J-Jizzy
2008Bar StarzClay the Doorman/Arnie
2008The HustleJunior Walker
2009FrankenhoodFranklin[28]
2010Our Family WeddingT.J.[29]
2010Lottery TicketSemaj[30]
2012Moving DayCedric[31]
2016Meet the BlacksKey Flo[32] Final film role

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990The Kid Who Loved ChristmasTV movie
1995MartinBig Bro1 episode
1995Murder was the Case: The MovieJCDirect-to-video
2003–2006Chappelle's ShowVarious14 episodes, also writer
2004One on OneSenator Larry Eldrige
2005Denis Leary's Merry F#%$in' ChristmasHimselfTV special
2005–2010Ed Wuncler III (voice)[33] 10 episodes
2006Big Kid (voice)TV movie
2006Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-Roc's StreetBig Kid (voice)TV movie
2006Wild 'n OutHimself
2007Beef IVHimself/narrator (voice)Video documentary
2007We Got to Do BetterHostUnknown episodes
2007Pauly Shore's Natural Born KomicsHimselfDirect-to-video
2009SamsonEpisode: "Pill Time"
2010Al Sharpton,[34] Perminator (voice)TV movie
2010Charlie Murphy: I Will Not ApologizeHimselfVideo documentary
2010Lopez TonightHimself
2010–2012Are We There Yet?Frank Kingston5 episodes
20101000 Ways to DieHimselfEpisode: "Today's Menu: Deep Fried Death"
2011The Cookout 2Coach AshmokeemTV film
2012–2014Black DynamiteA Cat Named Rollo (voice)2 episodes
2013Hawaii Five-0Don McKinney
2014–2015Black JesusVicMain cast
21 episodes
2016Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesVrax Belebome / Bellybomb (voice)[35] Episode: "Journey to the Center of Mikey's Mind"
2017PowerMarshal Clyde Williams5 episodes
2017The Comedy Get DownHimselfPosthumous release
5 episodes

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004Jizzy B.
2006White Mike
2021Jizzy B.Archival recordings
Remaster of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas only.

Music videos

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Comedian Charlie Murphy dies at 57. Melas. Chloe. April 13, 2017. CNN. April 13, 2017.
  2. News: The other funny Murphy, Eddie's brother Charlie. March 11, 2012. The Daily Telegraph. December 2, 2013.
  3. Bill . Zehme . Eddie Murphy: the Rolling Stone interview . . August 24, 1989 . 131.
  4. Book: Murphy, Charlie. Contributions by Chris Millis.. The Making of a Stand-Up Guy. December 1, 2009. Simon & Schuster. 9781439123140. 81–83. On the spur of the moment, for what in our minds amounted to nothing more than a lark, we decided to rob the driver at gunpoint. [...] I was charged as a youthful offender on my first offense and handed three years' probation. [...] [I]n the third year I was arrested for petit larceny, loitering, and a few other misdemeanors. Taken all together, the crimes were a violation of my probation. [...] I was sentenced to serve out the remainder of my probation in Nassau County Jail. I was going away for ten months..
  5. Web site: Charlie Murphy Shares His True Hollywood Stories and Passion for Comedy with PR.com. Kugel. Allison. December 15, 2007. January 18, 2013. I got out on a Monday and I signed up for the Navy the same day..
  6. Web site: Murphy . Keith . The hilarious and self-aware glory of Charlie Murphy . . 2017-04-13 . 2019-10-19.
  7. Web site: So Corny It's Good Part Five: The K-9 Posse. Bloggerhouse.net. October 14, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20170417092326/http://bloggerhouse.net/2009/06/25/so-corny-its-good-part-five-k-9-posse/ . April 17, 2017. dead. mdy-all.
  8. Web site: K-9 Posse- This Beat Is Military (Video). 18 June 2011 . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/2BCXXroT05Q . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. October 14, 2012.
  9. Web site: Remembering Charlie Murphy's Epic Story About Prince On Chappelle's Show. https://web.archive.org/web/20160422031843/http://www.mtv.com/news/2871639/charlie-murphy-prince-chappelles-show/ . dead . April 22, 2016 . MTV. April 12, 2017.
  10. October 4, 2018 . Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories: Rick James & Prince - Chappelle's Show . Video . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/4trBQseIkkc . 2021-12-21 . live. .
  11. News: Come on – kidnap me. I'm worth every penny.. Sfgate . 23 April 2005. April 12, 2017 . Hartlaub . Peter .
  12. Web site: Charlie Murphy: I wasn't happy being one of Eddie's troops – I'm a general. Andrew Williams. July 17, 2012. April 12, 2017.
  13. News: Charlie Murphy taking comedy to Crackle.com . The Hollywood Reporter . March 3, 2009 . March 4, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090309132732/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iee48bd23f07a5c21c31df8e1b310a304 . March 9, 2009 .
  14. Web site: "COMEDY CENTRAL FEBRUARY PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS" The Futon Critic December 21, 2009 . Thefutoncritic.com . June 23, 2010.
  15. Web site: Charlie Murphy on the Black Jesus Controversy and 10 Years of Hearing About Rick James. August 22, 2014. April 12, 2017.
  16. http://www.sfstandup.com/calendar/show.php?eventid=8482 Charlie Murphy at Pepper Belly's
  17. Web site: Charlie Murphy's Wife, Tisha Taylor Murphy, Dies. https://web.archive.org/web/20110414055219/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628253/charlie-murphys-wife-tisha-taylor-murphy-dies.jhtml. dead. April 14, 2011. MTV News. 4 November 2014.
  18. Web site: Exclusive interview with Charlie Murphy . 4 November 2014 . Huntington . Heather . https://archive.today/20140707081102/http://www.reelz.com/article/489/exclusive-interview-with-charlie-murphy-/ . 7 July 2014 . dead .
  19. Web site: Charlie Murphy Discusses His Brother, Bitch-Slaps, and the Death of Chappelle's Show. S. Pajot. June 25, 2010. Miami New Times. April 12, 2017.
  20. Web site: Eddie Murphy's brother Charlie Murphy dead at 57: TMZ. fox5sandiego.com. 12 April 2017. 12 April 2017.
  21. News: Comedian Charlie Murphy Dead at 57 After Leukemia Battle . TMZ . 2017-04-12 . 2017-04-12.
  22. News: Guerrasio . Jason . Why Netflix's 'Dolemite Is My Name' is dedicated to Eddie Murphy's brother, Charlie . 13 February 2024 . Business Insider.
  23. Web site: Comedian Charlie Murphy Dies at 57. Sheridan Broadcasting Networks. April 12, 2017. Cook. Brian. April 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170419003319/http://www.sbnol.com/2017/04/12/comedian-charlie-murphy-dies-57/. April 19, 2017. dead. mdy-all.
  24. Web site: CB4 Movie Review & Film Summary (1993). Roger Ebert. Ebert. Roger. June 6, 1993.
  25. Web site: Vampire In Brooklyn Review (1995). Roger Ebert. Ebert. Roger. October 27, 1995.
  26. Web site: Mattie Fresno and the Holoflux Universe. River Front Times. April 12, 2017.
  27. Eddie Murphy and family mourn Charlie Murphy: 'Our hearts are heavy'. Entertainment Weekly. April 12, 2017. Gettell. Oliver.
  28. Web site: Charlie Murphy. Rotten Tomatoes. April 18, 2017.
  29. Web site: Our Family Wedding (2010). 12 March 2010 . Rotten Tomatoes. April 18, 2017.
  30. News: Review: 'Lottery Ticket'. Variety. August 12, 2010. Barker. Andrew.
  31. News: Moving Day: Not as moving as it wants to be . Punter. Jennie. The Globe and Mail. July 20, 2012.
  32. Web site: Meet the Blacks Movie Review & Film Summary (2016). Roger Ebert. Lemire. Christy. April 1, 2016.
  33. Web site: RIP Charlie Murphy: 6 Things You Probably Didn't Know He Was In (Photos). The Wrap. April 12, 2017. Hornshaw. Phil.
  34. Web site: 'Freaknik: The Musical' Review. IGN. March 8, 2010. Isler. Ramsay.
  35. Web site: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: "Journey to the Center of Mikey's Mind" Review. IGN. January 17, 2016. Nicholson. Max.